Coimbatore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled an 112-feet-tall Adiyogi Lord Shiva statue at Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, the Manchester City of South India on the occasion of Hindu festival Mahashivratri held on Friday.

Modi unveiled the statue or ‘Adiyogi,’ an avatar of Lord Shiva who is considered to be the first of yogis. On Friday, the Prime Minister had earlier greeted people on Mahashivratri and also invoked Lord Shiva, saying that people can see what is right or wrong for them with their third eye.

The Adiyogi Lord Shiva sculpture, made of steel weighed about 500 tons and took almost about two-and-a-half years to design and eight months to build it.

On extolling the ancient Indian discipline of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday is called for efforts to protect nature and mold human activities to bring them in sync with the ecological surroundings. He also named unity in diversity as the specialty and strength of the Indian culture.

He said on addressing a gathering after unveiling a mammoth 112 feet bust of ‘Adiyogi” Lord Shiva at Isha Yoga Foundation as quoted “This (Mahashivaratri celebrations) symbolizes a spirit of vigilance, which we have to protect nature and mold our activities in sync with our ecological surroundings.”

Underlining the need for peaceful coexistence, Modi has also said that Lord Shiva is everywhere and referred to the bull, peacock, and mouse that were the vehicles of the Lord and his sons Ganapathy and Karthik. He also mentioned about the venomous snake Vasuki which is curled around Shiva’s neck to emphasize the importance of peaceful coexistence.

On praising the ancient practice of Yoga as its goal is to bring the practitioner’s body, mind, and spirit in tune with each other, Modi told the gathering that by “practicing Yoga, a spirit of oneness would be created. Oneness of the mind, body, and the intellect, oneness with our families and with the society we live in, with the fellow humans and with the birds, animals, and trees.”

“This is Yoga, Yoga is a journey from me to us,” he told, on emphasizing India’s biggest strength was its diversity. Modi began his speech by greeting the people in Tamzhil “Ungal Ellorukkum yen Anbana Vanakkam” meaning ‘My loving greetings to all.’

Founder of Isha Foundation, Jaggi Vasudev, said the bust of ‘Adiyogi Lord Shiva’ was built in eight months. He also lauded Modi for practicing Yoga. Before unveiling the Idol ‘Adiyogi’ bust, Modi lighted the “Maha Yoga Yagna” and released the book named ‘Adiyoga: The source of Yoga,’ that deals with the yogic sciences.

Modi was also shown around various places in the Isha Yoga complex, and that includes the Dhyana Linga, Surya Kund, Nandi statue and the inner and outer corridors (prakaras) by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and PM Modi on the event of MahaShivaratrii in Isha Foundation

The Prime Minister has offered aarathi and showered flower petals over the Dhyana Linga. He later sat in the Dhyana Linga mandapam, where a yogic dance was performed by a group of youngsters to the accompaniment of traditional music and Sanskrit shlokas.

Modi then briefly sat alongside Vasudev in a meditative posture. The city and the venue of the event were placed under a multi-tier security cover by police and the Special Protection Group, which guards the Prime Minister.

The statue and the foundation are located in the foothills of Velliangiri mountains in the Western Ghats. The bust was unveiled to coincide with Maha Shivaratri celebrations.

Mahashivratri translates to the great night of Shiva, is celebrated annually as a remembrance of overcoming darkness. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, practicing yoga and meditating on the ethics and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, and forgiveness.